Arch lift attachment for ice skates



April 16, 1940. E, ANDERSON ARCH LIFT ATTACHMENT FOR 1cm SKATES File'd Aug. 31, 1958 m M W M ,P. M

M a. 4 4 a 1 ,Vhwv, J JH|A o 5 1 Patented Apr. 16, 1940 I UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE I ARCH LIFT ATTACHMENT FORQIVICE SKATES Elmer Anderson, Los Angeles Galifl I Application Augu t sl, 1938,;Serial Nb. 227,742 fsjc'lainistolf'zso iillo y This invention'relates to skates, and more pars able.-

ticularlypertains to ice-skates of the type in which the-skate runnersare afiixed to shoes. v r-'An"object of the invention isto provide a' means whereby the arch-of the skaters shoe may be adjusted to' afford a protuberance interiorly of the shoe such as will act to' hold the skaters foot from advancing excessively in the 'shoe and whereby'crowding of -the skaters toes into the tips of the shoes will be prevented and thereby obviating-a condition which contributes largely to-fatigue anddiscomfortof a skater and thus serves torenderthe' act of skatingrnore enjoy- Another objectis to provide a device which is adapted-to be applied to the ordinary skates of commerce without necessitating any alteration of the skatelconstruction. I

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which is adapted to be adjusted to meet varying conditions and whereby the arch of a skaters shoe may be elevated to such point as to conform to or engage and supskate to which the device is applied.

A further object is to provide a device for the I purpose set forth which is adapted to be produced as an article of manufacturefor attachment to the conventional type of combined shoes and ice skates now in use.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention is carried into effect as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a skate, showing the invention as applied;

Fig. 2 is a view in section and elevation of the arch supporting device as detached;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2; and 1 Fig. 4 is'.' a view in section and'elevation depicting the mode of operation of the invention.

Referring to the drawing more specifically A indicates generally an ice-skate of the type embodying a shoe 5 having a flexible sole 6 on which latter is mounted in conventional fashion a skate runner I; the shoe being fitted with a pair of spaced rigid'plates 8 and 9 afiixed' respectively to the heel and toe portions of the sole 6 by'means upturned and is rigidly connected by a column [3 to the tip portion of the toe plate9. In carrying out the invention advantage is taken of the fact that the plates 8 and 9 are ar-' j ranged on opposite sides of the intermediate portion of the sole 6 which sole by reason of being fiexible 'and slightly elastic, is capable of being the provision of an adjustable attachment B adapted to be interposed between the runner I and the intermediate'portion of the shoe'sole 6 and which attachment is so constructed as to be operable to effect a spreading action between the runner and sole'soas to elevate the intermediate portion ofthe latter'relative'to the runner.

v :A's'he're shown' theattachment B embodies a' tubularstem l4 fitted at one end thereof with a yoke or saddle l5 for positioning astride the back of' the runner I, and also embodies a screw threaded shank I6 fixed at one end to a stirrup plate l1 engageable with the shoe sole 6. The freeend of the shank l6 extends loosely into the open outer end of the stem I' l, and screwed on the shank' is an adjustment nut l8 having op posed handles l9 for engagement by the hand or by a suitable tool to facilitate turning the nut of. the stem I 4.

The stirrup plate I! is formed. with up-turned end flanges 2|-22 for projecting over the side edges of the shoe sole to obviate slipping of the plate transversely of the shoe sole.

In order to properly align the stem l4 and shank I6 relative to the runner 1 and at the same time afford a proper seating connection between the shoe sole 6 and the plate II the connection between the shank lffi and plate I! is located'closer to one end of the plate than to the other, since in conventional shoe construction, the margins of the intermediate portion'of the shoe sole are Off-' set outwardly relative to the general longitudinal center of the shoe and on the plane of which center the skate runner 1 is arranged to extend. In the application and operation of the invention the attachment device B is initially applied while the yoke 15 and stirrup plate l! are retracted relative to each other,the yoke l5 being then disposed astride the backof the runner 1 at a point opposite that at or near to the intermediate portion of the shoe sole 6 extending between the heel and toe plates 89. The nut I8 is then turned in a direction to advance the threaded shank I6 and cause the plate I! to come into contact with the shoe sole '6 and with the flanges" 2I--22 on the ends of the plate I! overlying opposed marginal portions of the shoe sole.

The shoe is then applied to the foot of the wearer, whereupon the nut I8 is adjusted on the shank IE to advance the latter relative to the stem 14 and thereby efiect a spreading action between the shoe-sole and the back of the skate runner such as to cause elevation of the flexible intermediate portion of the shoe-sole. This operation is continued until the inner intermedie ate portion of the shoe-sole is arched to such' extent as to closely conform to the arch of the skating. with the toes pinched in the shoe tips.

The device as illustrated in Fig. 2 is adapted to be produced as an article of manufacture which can be readily applied to and removed from the i combined shoe and skate construction now generally in use and whereby owners and users of such skates may equip them with the arch support and without making any changes o-r alterations in the skate and shoe construction.

While I have shown and described a specified embodiment of the invention, "it is manifest that it is subject to modification, and accordingly the invention embraces such changes in construction as come within the meaningand scope of the, appended claims. I L

I claim:

1. As an article ment for skates embodying a shoe sole havinga flexible arch and a skate runner associatedtherewith and spanning said arch, comprising a runner engaging yoke, a sole engaging plate, {a

standard interposed between said yokeand plate,

and means for varying the length of said stand ard; said standard including a tubular stern and threaded shank freely slidable longitudinally in said stem, and said means for varying the length ofsaid standard comprising a nut screwed on 5 said-shank and arranged to bear against an end of said stem.

2. An attachment for skates-of the type embodying a shoe sole having a flexible arch and a skate runner spanning said arch, comprising a yoke adapted to seat astride the skaterunner, a

tubular stem fixed on said, yoke, a sole engaging plate, a threaded shank carried on. said plate and tudinal movement relative thereto, and a nut shoe sole having'a flexible arch, and a skate runner spanning said arch, a yoke adapted to seat astride the skate runner, a tubular stem on said said stem for free longitudinal movement relative thereto, and a nut screwed on said shankyarranged to bear against the outer .endfof said stem; said shank being connected ;to said plate closer to one end thereof than to the other.

ELMER ANDERSON.

of manufacture, an attachloosely extending into said stem for free longiv screwed on said shank arranged to bear against the outer end of said stem. a

3. In an attachment for skates embodying a I yoke, an arch supportingplate; a threaded shank 'carried on said plateand loosely extending into 

